in arrears

Idioms  

1. Late or behind, especially in payment of money. For example, He's been in arrears on his rent so often that he may be evicted. [First half of 1600s]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in arrears

And as a result, their numbers are always out of date by the time they are published, because they are typically reported a month in arrears.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026

George's ordeal dates back to 2016 when an appeal tribunal overturned a CSA decision against him, effectively writing off more than £16,000 in arrears.

From BBC ● May 15, 2026

They highlighted how few of their loans were in arrears.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

Jodie Davies, from Tonyrefail, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, owes £1,200 in arrears on her council tax and said councils should contact people earlier if they have missed a payment.

From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2026

The pews were decrepit, the bills were once so in arrears the electricity was nearly turned off, and the padre hadn’t installed air-conditioning, despite summer temperatures that reach 120 degrees.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

Related Words

• expected
• outstanding
• overdue
• owed
• payable
• scheduled